Relocation, relocation: teams left in doubt

Just under a decade ago, the National Rugby League made it known that a team which relocates could receive up to $11 million from the administration.

The availability of the incentive was a tacit acknowledgment that there were too many teams in Sydney but that saving the history and intellectual property of an existing team was preferable to shutting it down and starting afresh.

In recent weeks, we have seen it given pulmonary massage in light of the travails being experienced by Cronulla.

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The theory is that if the club were to be sued by players who are found guilty of using illegal substances, it would quickly become insolvent. That could also happen if the NRL imposed a Draconian fine on the club in the wake of the ASADA investigation.

It's one thing to predict the Commission would use the situation as leverage to get the club to move. But does the ARLC even favour relocation?

As things stand, the incentives for staying put are the same as for moving. It's time for the NRL administration to make its position clear on relocation.

Is it a preferred option or not? Please let us know.

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The last two weeks, we've been reporting on the back and forth between the two rival bodies trying to start rugby league in Thailand.

While there is no league in the kingdom at present, it's instructive about the issues and battles that seem to repeat themselves all over the place in our sport.

Shannon Crane, who runs the TRL, sent us a link to the League's entry on the Thai Department of Business registry. He also says the rival Thailand Rugby League's Facebook page has been closed down and insists he does reside in Thailand, not Brisbane.

We will not be continuing the back-and-forth. Case closed!

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Comments time and let's go back to last week's column.

First, there was a debate over the Balmain v Western Suburbs situation, which speaks for itself. We then had bluesbreaker calling for a return to traditional Kangaroo tours, Pacific Cups and other competitions and tours. The reasons these don't happen are: 1) Player welfare concerns and club opposition, and 2) Lack of money. Clubs pay players and, quite reasonably, don't want them off playing in a thousand competitions.

Callan is right, though, regarding the lack of promotion for internationals. The Rugby League International Federation exists in name only and there is too little co-ordination or even communication between governing bodies around the world.

Jg completely misses the point regarding Thailand. The NRL is not doing anything to start rugby league in these countries – local enthusiasts are acting off their own bat.

Seano is 100 per cent correct in saying NRL referees need to start using the sin bin.

Set of Six time. And I disagree with Seano that players should be able to walk out on contracts and earn more money at another club. A contract is a freakin' contract!

I agree with Seano – and Matt Gidley – that we are going down a dangerous path if the seriousness of an injury determines the length of a suspension.

As for "Get It Right Steve", I didn't say the video referee was consulted in the case of the Albert Kelly intercept. I said the opposite, that the video referee could not have been consulted regardless of what the on-field officials saw, and that's where the inequality lies.

Seano says Melbourne's short passes around the ruck are often forward. Roger said I should have mentioned Souths being the victim of a targeted leg-pull – but an entire story was devoted to that on this very site, so I don't think you could suggest Herald writers are biased on the issue. You can quite reasonably argue I am, I guess.

Kaptain Kosmos says statistics show rugby league is in decline. I'll still be here watching it, Kaptain. I'll cheer the little steps forward but the steps backwards will have no impact on my enthusiasm. Discord will continue to appear as long as there is an internet.

And as for World Cup games in PNG? No way. The infrastructure, communications and political situation are too unstable and you can't make any money through the gate. There's a reason no game in PNG has ever been broadcast live in Australia.